Don't click on that link!

Please don't click ANYWHERE in an unsolicited email!
Recently I've noticed an increase in emails from companies from which I've previously ordered, and that is certainly to be expected in this temporary shift away from in-store purchases.  Unfortunately, though, hackers and scammers are also increasing their email efforts taking advantage of the increase in online traffic.
It's really best to just delete unsolicited emails without even reading them, but if you do open one-- for your safety, do not click on any links in the email.  Do not click on any links in the email.  Do not click on any links in the email. Got it?

Why?  When you click on a link in the email three things may/could happen:
1) Clicking may initiate the download of a harmful piece of software on your computer; you will not visually see this happen.
2) Clicking sends a cookie back to the company to verify that you are indeed a "live" person which encourages them to only send additional mail.
3) Clicking can take you to a website that has been created as a clone; the website may look authentic as a way to encourage you to go ahead and login with your account information.  Then the sender will have captured your login information to use on the "real" site.

What should you do?
1) If an email contains a link asking you to verify your personal information, access that site directly by opening your browser and entering the URL yourself (not via the link in the email).  This assures you are on the legitimate site, and if there is anything wrong with your account, a message will appear on that site.
2) Delete the suspicious email immediately.
3) If you mistakenly click on a link and then give them your login information, immediately change your passwords on any site where you've used the same password.

Unfortunately, scammers and hackers will probably always be at work so this is a tip to remember even after we make it past this pandemic.

Hope this finds you safe and healthy.  As many of you, we here in Kansas are in a stay-safer-at-home mode.  Hope you are able to use this time to tackle all of those "I'll do it when I have the time" tasks.  :-)

If you have a friend who wants to subscribe, feel free to share this link:  https://bit.ly/tuesdaytechtip2020

Create a "junk" email address for creating online accounts

When signing up for something online, do you get asked if you'd like to sign in using your Facebook account or your Google account?  Don't do it.

When creating an online account consider using a "junk" email address.  A "junk" email address is one that you create specifically for signing up for offers online.  It is different than your regular email address so that your regular Inbox does not get filled with spam or unwanted advertisements.

How do you get a "junk" email address?  Simply go to mail.google.com and create a new email address specifically for this purpose (or any of the other providers - Yahoo, Hotmail, etc.)  You don't need to feel obligated to check this email account ever.......unless you get curious about the types of emails that are being sent there. :-)

Caution - If you are signing up for an account that you want to receive notifications from go ahead and use your personal email address (credit cards, banks, online retailers, etc.) You don't want to miss out on those types of communication!

Have a GREAT Tuesday!